Diamond pheasants. Golden pheasant and other breeds of exotic birds for ornamental and meat purposes Diamond pheasant

Like many exotic creatures, this amazingly beautiful bird, known as the diamond, or flower, pheasant (lat. Chrysolophus amherstiae) originates from the mountainous regions of Southeast Asia, inhabiting the highlands of northern Burma, Tibet and the southwestern provinces of China.

Despite the truly fabulous beauty of plumage, diamond pheasants prefer to settle where few people can appreciate the diversity of its colors - in thickets of thorny bushes and dark bamboo forests. One of the most beautiful and colorful birds in the world, diamond pheasants climb to a height of two to almost five thousand meters above sea level, away from prying eyes.

Here they lead a quiet, solitary life, spending time in search of their favorite food. Under fallen leaves, diamond pheasants look for all kinds of beetles and spiders, and by tearing the ground and turning over small stones, they get the larvae of various insects.

The highest place where you can see a diamond pheasant is the southern Chinese province of Yunnan: here pheasants have chosen shady mountain slopes at an altitude of four and a half kilometers above sea level. The basis of their diet is young bamboo shoots, thanks to the love for which diamond pheasants received the nickname "Sun-hee", which means "bud-eating birds" in Chinese.

With the onset of winter, the pheasants descend lower, onto gentler slopes and into secluded valleys, protected from icy winds and warmed by the weak rays of the sun. In search of food, they come to the shores of reservoirs, where under the stones you can find more nutrient-rich food - different kinds invertebrates.

The only time when diamond pheasants show themselves in all their glory is the mating season. Unlike males, female diamond pheasants are painted in dark, unattractive colors, so in the mating season, males try to surprise their future partners with all the splendor of their luxurious plumage. AND The best way to do it is a wedding dance.

Feathers shimmering in green metallic on the head, crowned with a crimson tuft, a lush black and white collar, a dark green back with yellow fringe on the sides and a long white tail, decorated with wavy black and blue stripes ... Not a single representative of the fair sex can remain indifferent when for she is danced by such a beautiful gentleman. All kinds of pas are performed in such a way as to maximally demonstrate all the beauty of the applicant - as if bowing in a deep curtsy, the male lowers one wing and raises the other, while spreading his tail.

The mating ritual of the diamond pheasant is one of the most impressive. It lasts for several hours, after which the female chooses the most skillful and bright, in her opinion, applicant. Having decided on a pair, the male digs a small depression in the ground, where the female lays ten to twelve eggs. After about three weeks, grey-brown chicks are born. The male is indifferent to their upbringing, but is always ready to help them.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the diamond pheasant was brought to England, which became its second home. In total, there are about five hundred birds living in young coniferous and deciduous forests.

According to many experts, one of the most beautiful birds successfully bred in captivity is the diamond pheasant. The photos attached to the article will allow the reader to verify this. It is also important that they can easily adapt to the climate of many regions of our country and will become a real decoration of any farm.

Appearance

Of course, the main decoration of a diamond pheasant is its tail. With an average body length of 150 centimeters, about 100 of them fall precisely on the tail. It is luxurious without exaggeration - the black and white pattern enchants and, alas, is the reason that the bird is almost exterminated in its homeland. In females, the tail is much less beautiful - although they themselves are larger, its length rarely exceeds 40 centimeters.

The weight of birds ranges from 1 to 1.5 kilograms, which makes them very interesting from a gastronomic point of view.

The plumage of the male is striking in its beauty, richness and brightness. The head is painted bright orange, and the sides are black. A gray, not too large, but sharp beak stands out. There is a variegated black and white hood - very beautiful and elegant. The chest and back are painted blue-black. The lower back is rich orange. However, they acquire such a rich color only in the second year of life.

Females, like most bird species, are much less beautiful - gray or brown alternates with black, so that they are closer in color to the usual discreet sparrow.

When you know the description of the diamond pheasant, it is worth saying a few words about the habitat of this amazing bird.

In nature, they live mainly in China, but small populations are found in Nepal and Myanmar. Alas, in the homeland the birds are practically exterminated. Local peasants hunt them simply because of the tasty meat. Bright feathers also cause a lot of problems for unfortunate pheasants - quite often hunters want to get not so much meat as chic tail plumage.

Fortunately, several copies were brought in the nineteenth century from China to England. Here they took root - as it turned out, high humidity and relatively low temperatures do not cause serious problems for the birds. At first, it was popular to keep a diamond pheasant in parks and rich estates - in wild nature they didn't meet at all. But one day, several birds managed to escape and settle in deciduous and coniferous forests abounding in shrubs. The food turned out to be quite enough (the pheasant eats buds, seeds, young shoots and leaves with pleasure), and there are relatively few natural enemies. Therefore, today, with some luck, the bright plumage of birds can be seen in many forests of Great Britain.

Place to keep

Before you start a diamond pheasant, it will be useful to know the features of keeping and breeding. It all starts with an aviary. It should be large enough - a bird whose body length is one and a half meters needs a spacious room. Otherwise, the pheasant starts to get sick, and some males are left without their luxurious tail. Of course, this should not be allowed under any circumstances.

Therefore, first you need to prepare an aviary - its area should be at least 10 square meters. It is desirable - several times more. One corner should be densely planted with shrubs, where birds can spend time, relax and enjoy natural fresh food.

Also, one should not forget about the houses in which the pheasants hide from the cold and wind. It is desirable to make railings thick, not less than 3-4 centimeters in diameter, so that it is convenient for the birds to sit on them.

The optimal floor covering - small pebbles or a concrete surface will not work - the birds out of habit try to rake the ground and will be seriously injured.

Choosing the right diet

Every owner wants his pets to please the eye with beauty, brightness and have excellent health. In this case, when establishing a diamond pheasant, you need to know the features of the content - first of all, this proper feeding.

The basis of the diet is grain - about 50%. This includes wheat, corn and barley. But corn should be given in a relatively small amount - because of it, the bird quickly gains weight, so it is better to focus on it before the autumn slaughter.

Do not forget about fresh food - dandelions, plantain and nettles. In summer, it is desirable to give as much of such greenery as possible so that the pheasant receives the microelements and vitamins it needs. Otherwise, over time, the plumage will fade.

You can give a variety of food waste - from the remains of porridge and bread crumbs to vegetable peelings.

Any insects and snails will be a good addition. An excellent solution would be to enrich the diet of juveniles with them - earthworms, spiders, snails and even the Colorado potato beetle are nutritious food with a high protein content.

Finally, it is worth adding mineral and vitamin supplements to the diet - the same ones that are given to chickens, geese and other poultry.

Breeding in captivity

In spring, females begin to lay eggs - an average of about ten. It depends on age, as well as the correctness of the diet. Shortly before this, males spend almost all their free time from sleeping and feeding on courting them - peculiar dances, a demonstration of chic plumage.

It is worth seizing this moment, providing the birds with enough hay, small branches and straw so that the females can build a nest in which they will lay their eggs. At the same time, you can install plywood boxes in which the bird will hide from overly prying eyes.

The incubation period ranges from 22 to 24 days. After that, tiny, but already completely covered with fluff chicks are born. Females take care of them, and in some cases males also look after the young. But in most cases, the latter are rather indifferent to their children.

Juvenile care

It is advisable to move the female, together with the chicks, from the rest of the birds. Otherwise, young birds will not receive enough food, and aggressive individuals may well damage them or simply accidentally step on them during feeding.

But the female can not be planted in any case. In general, pheasants tolerate low temperatures well, but chicks have rather poor thermoregulation of the body, so you need a hen that will warm them at night. Can you replace it infrared heater- in this case, the temperature in the cage should be maintained at about 38 degrees Celsius and, of course, the appearance of drafts is unacceptable.

From childhood, pheasants need space. So one square meter cannot contain more than 30 chicks. The best food at this time is finely chopped hard-boiled eggs with herbs. In the second month, you can give adult food, adding a large amount of greenery there.

Common diseases

In general, diseases rarely disturb pheasants. But still, it is extremely important to know about them, especially since some are infectious, which means they pose a great danger to the entire livestock. These include several diseases.

Viral smallpox - is determined by the appearance of special rashes on the scalp and paws. It is quite simple to treat - you need to add an antiviral drug to the water, and also lubricate the rash with Lugol's solution.

Aspergillosis - fungal disease affecting the bronchi and air sacs. As a result, the bird develops an incredible thirst, and the paws and beak also turn blue. Treatment is carried out with an antifungal aerosol.

The most common non-communicable disease is emphysema. Tubercles appear on the body - by pressing on them, you can easily release the accumulated air. Birds do not eat well, almost do not move. The most reliable way to solve the problem is to pierce the blisters and treat with an antiseptic.

Conclusion

This is where the article ends. Now you know enough about the keeping and breeding of the diamond pheasant, and you will also be able to diagnose the most common diseases, raise juveniles. So, problems when working with these amazing birds will not occur.

The diamond pheasant (lat. Chrysolophus amherstiae) belongs to the Phasian family (Phasianidae) from the order Galliformes. It is the closest relative of (Chrysolophus pictus). Both species interbreed both in captivity and in the wild, producing fertile offspring. Under natural conditions, hybrids are most often found in the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, located in the southeast of the country.

These two species are currently the only members of the Collared Pheasant (Crysolophus) genus. Their characteristic feature is the presence of a kind of "collar", which becomes sticky during the period of mating.

The first diamond pheasants were brought to England in 1828 by Countess Sarah Amherst, wife of William Amherst, following his dismissal from the post of Governor General of Bengal. Outlandish birds began to breed in the vicinity of Woburn Abbey Castle. Only aristocrats had the right to hunt them. In the 1960s, the owner of the castle turned it into a tourist attraction and established a safari park next to it. Now about 200 beautiful birds are no longer afraid of hunters and proudly show their bright outfit to visiting tourists.

Spreading

The original habitat of diamond pheasants was the mountainous regions of southwestern China and southeastern Tibet. Later they spread to the territory of Myanmar (national Shan district). In the north, the border of the range runs approximately near 31 ° north latitude.

The largest populations have survived in the west of Sichuan and in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the upper reaches of the Salween River.

Birds settle mainly in bamboo thickets and on mountain slopes overgrown with shrubs at altitudes up to 4750 m above sea level.

The species is monotypic, no subspecies are currently known. The total population is estimated at 50 thousand birds.

Behavior

Birds adhere to an active daytime lifestyle, showing maximum activity in the morning and evening. They tend to settle down, but in especially cold winters they descend from the mountains to the lowlands. Birds form small groups that can unite in winter period to search for food together.

Among them there are supporters of both monogamous and polygamous family relationships. Most diamond pheasants form married couples in the spring and avoid contact with relatives when hatching chicks.

They get their food on the surface of the soil. The diet consists of plant foods and small invertebrates. Representatives of this species have a special passion for young bamboo shoots, ferns and nuts. Sometimes birds visit the outskirts of peasant fields and feast on grain crops. At noon, they usually indulge in a short rest.

In captivity, diamond pheasants eat food for chickens, various greens, fruits and berries.

They do not show aggression towards other poultry and become tame relatively quickly. During the mating season, roosters are distrustful of others and may be the first to attack them, protecting their harem.

reproduction

The mating season runs from April to May. At this time, the birds make loud piercing sounds, attracting a potential partner to their person. The roosters try to charm the hens with an intricate dance. They revolve around the chosen ones, spreading the feathers on the neck in different directions. The resulting black and white "collar" almost completely covers the head.

At the end of the dance, the dancer clings to the ground and displays his luxurious plumage.

Mating occurs only if the marriageable bride highly appreciates the choreographic and external data of the boyfriend.

The female builds a nest in thickets of bushes right on the soil surface. It is a small hole in the ground. On average, there are 6-7 dark-beige eggs in a clutch.

The duration of incubation is 23-24 days. The female incubates the clutch alone, leaving for a short time to eat. The male remains constantly close and protects her from any encroachment, without taking a direct part in the incubation and upbringing of offspring. Chicks are born fully formed. After a few hours, they can follow their mother in search of food.

Chicks are constantly under vigilant maternal care. They become completely independent at the age of about 3 months. Sexual maturity occurs after 2 years.

Description

The length of adult roosters reaches 130-170 cm, of which 85-110 cm falls on a long tail. The wingspan is 50-60 cm. Weight ranges from 750-850 g.

In chickens, the body length is 66-68 cm, and the tail is only 31-37 cm. Their wingspan is 45-55 cm, and their weight is 600-800 g.

Sexual dimorphism is pronounced. Chickens are painted chestnut brown. Beige or whitish spots are visible on the chest, sides and belly. Throughout the plumage are transverse undulating dark stripes with a metallic sheen.

The throat is beige, the cheeks are silvery with black spots. The plumage around the eyes (as well as males) is absent. The lower limbs and paws are bluish-gray.

In roosters, the forehead and crown are dark green in color, the black head is decorated with a crimson crest about 60 mm long. The back and wings are greenish with bluish "scales", the rump is orangeish-yellow with pale red feathers. The moiré pattern is clearly visible on the long tail feathers. "Collar" has a scaly white and black pattern. The beak and lower limbs are grey.

In the wild, diamond pheasants live an average of 8-10 years. In captivity, with good care, individual specimens live up to 25 years.

Among the varieties of pheasants, the diamond breed is considered the most popular. This strong and hardy bird does not give farmers much trouble in keeping, moreover, it endures temperature changes even in cool habitats.

Diamond rock is very beautiful and stately in appearance. The male can be recognized by its brilliant blue-green feathers with black, white, red and yellow tints. Its long tail is black and white. A rich red crest flaunts on the head of a diamond pheasant, the neck is framed by a white hood. The tips of the wings and the back are marked with dark emerald feathers, and the abdomen has snow-white blotches. With a weight of 675 - 800 g, the body length of the male reaches 170 cm, the tail - 115 cm.

The female diamond pheasant does not have such a bright and catchy appearance. She has a grayish-blue plumage and a rather long body of 65 cm, while the tail reaches only 30 - 35 cm. Its weight is not much inferior to the weight of the male and ranges from 600 to 700 g. To maintain muscle mass, the body needs to be fed with fish oil .

The nature of the diamond pheasant is calm and peaceful, these birds willingly communicate with people, as they like a sedentary lifestyle. In the wild, they live among thorny bushes and bamboo thickets, spend the night in trees. These birds are in small groups until the nesting period, and when it occurs, they are divided into pairs.

Due to the sophistication of diamond pheasants, they are a wonderful decoration or hunting yard. Growing for decorative purposes is the main focus of this type of bird. A valuable decorative part is the feather of a diamond pheasant, from which “flies” are even made for fishing. Poultry droppings are also very useful as an organic soil fertilizer. The meat of a diamond pheasant is incredibly tender, besides, it is dietary, and eggs contain a large amount of protein and do not cause allergies.

The egg production of the diamond breed of pheasants depends on the age, care and quality of feeding of the bird. Once a year in spring, the female lays 6-12 cream-colored eggs and incubates them for up to 23 days. Immediately after hatching, the chicks are already quite independent, but the female pheasant tries for some time to be near the newborns and warm them with her wings.

Features of breeding and growing at home

For breeding diamond pheasants, you need to equip a spacious one with the right heating.

IMPORTANT! The farmer needs to monitor the process of laying eggs by the female. It is necessary to remove the eggs immediately after the 20th day of laying, as females living in captivity tend to destroy their eggs.

• thanks to their incredible endurance, these birds can withstand sudden changes in temperature, and this quality is very much appreciated by many farmers;
• accommodating with many brothers, they can be kept even with pigeons;
• the breed is well tamed (through sufficient time with these birds and feeding them from your hands, you can become a great friend for a pheasant);
• diamond pheasants can be kept in pairs, trios or harems;
• due to excessive activity, as well as rather long tails in the breed, she needs combined type with several compartments and shelters;
• habitats also need to be planted with sufficient shrubs and dwarf trees.

ATTENTION! The place for the poultry house is set away from drafts, it maintains a dry climate. The walls of the enclosure are made double with a layer of insulation inside.

An enclosure for a monogamous couple should be built taking into account minimum size fences 1.5 by 2 m. The aviary is required condition content of diamond breed of pheasants. This is due to their fearfulness and fussiness: at the slightest fright, the bird tends to fly up to high branches or perches.

The floor of the enclosure is covered with a thick layer of sand, in which the pheasant can clean his luxurious wings. It is advisable to allocate separate feeders and drinkers for each individual. Perches of different heights should be provided in the aviary.

For a decorative look of a diamond pheasant, a lawn with grass and a small pond with running water will look very impressive. If space permits, it would be nice to create a natural landscape for the pet.

IMPORTANT! It is necessary to allocate additional space on the site for the construction of a spare enclosure, which will be necessary for pheasants in case of cleaning in their main dwelling.

Diseases

If diamond pheasants show deviations from their usual daily routine, then it is likely that they are. This breed, like other types of pheasants, endure the disease steadfastly in its initial stages, with advanced stages very difficult to achieve a full recovery. This type of bird may develop infectious diseases, namely:

• Viral smallpox. It can be identified by characteristic rashes on the paws and scalp. Treatment consists in treating the rash with a Lugol solution and drinking antiviral drugs by the bird.
• Laryngotracheitis. It is transmitted by air and is characterized by impaired appetite, sneezing, coughing and shortness of breath. Treatment must be prescribed by a doctor after testing in the laboratory.
• Aspergillosis. A fungal disease that affects the air sacs and bronchi, which leads to excessive thirst in the bird. Outwardly, the disease is visible by the cyanosis of the beak and paws. Treatment is carried out with antifungal aerosols.

In addition to the above diseases, diamond pheasants can carry non-contagious diseases:

• Dermatitis. Occurs in cases of injuries from falls and bruises. Young individuals are often prone to dermatitis due to their violent temper. The wounds are treated with iodine, and the bird is soldered with antibiotics and fortified products.
• Emphysema. The body is covered with tubercles, which, when pressed, release air. Pheasants become inactive and refuse to eat. Bubbles on the body are pierced and treated with antiseptic solutions.

When in the pheasant's enclosure, ticks can start, which provoke scabies in him. At the same time, part of the plumage of the pheasant is gradually lost and it becomes bald. The affected areas are treated with a solution of 0.15% Neguven.

William Pete Amherst named this species of pheasant in honor of his wife, Lady Sarah Amherst. "Flower pheasant", as the Chinese called it, came to the English counties, finding a second home.

Diamond pheasants perfectly acclimatized and adapted to the local weather conditions and young coniferous forests, hiding in dense undergrowth from direct sun rays and curious looks.

Extremely beautiful bird distinguished by bright plumage. On the head are green feathers with crimson ends, below is a black and white collar with black and blue stripes. The back of a diamond pheasant is green with black and blue contours, the chest is with white feathers. Distinctive feature The diamond pheasant has long tail feathers that are silvery white with red-brown and black transverse stripes. The body length of the male diamond pheasant is 130-140 cm, and the tail is 85-112 cm. The female pheasant is less intensely colored. The plumage is dark, unattractive tones. Body length is 65-68 cm, tail length is 30-38 cm.

The unpretentious diamond pheasant is insensitive to low temperatures, therefore pheasants are also grown in the temperate climate zone. Among the variety of pheasant species, the diamond pheasant is the most suitable for breeding by beginner poultry farmers.

For breeding pheasants, you will need enclosures made of a wooden (or metal) frame, covered with galvanized mesh on three sides. Instead of a roof, a rope or nylon mesh is used, which prevents unnecessary injuries to birds. An insulated wooden shed is being completed to the free side, in which birds can hide from adverse weather and bright sunlight. More experienced poultry farmers often divide enclosures into several parts, separating young from adult pheasants. Before entering the aviary, a corridor of boards is built, thanks to which the bird will not fly out.

The aviary is installed on the soil, with a deep occurrence of groundwater. Very often the floor is covered with fine gravel or river sand. The inside of the enclosures is covered with a thin layer of lime, the outside is painted with lead-free paint of a suitable color.
Feeders, drinkers, perches, heaters and sand baths are also placed in the aviary. Low feeders and shelves can be placed in two places on stands to facilitate cleaning of the enclosure and increase the free area for movement. For birds to rest at night, perches are built from soft wood in a remote corner. Also, the enclosure should have artificial lighting that imitates the increased length of the day so that the pheasants fully develop and bring healthy offspring.

The main diet of birds is plants and small invertebrates. In the southern regions of China, Tibet and Myanmar, diamond pheasants willingly eat young bamboo shoots, fern greens, nuts, grains and seeds. Raking the ground with their paws, pheasants hunt spiders and beetles, and in shallow water they look for hidden invertebrates. Birds living in the UK eat berries, often nesting in blackberry bushes.

For a diamond pheasant, the daily diet must be balanced and consist of essential nutrients. Feed mixtures may include grains, seeds, carrots, potatoes, animal products, softwood bone and fish meal, lime and salt.
You can order and buy pheasants in our nursery. Breeding of diamond pheasants is a new and highly profitable view home business, allowing to save the population of beautiful birds.